Giants’ Landon Collins wins NFC Defensive Player of Week again

Landon Collins of the New York Giants celebrates an interception early in the first quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 6, 2016 in East Rutherford, N.J. Photo Credit: Jim McIsaac

Earlier this week a lot of stories were written and broadcast about the youth movement the Giants pushed forward in their win over the Eagles on Sunday. Exciting newcomers such as Sterling Shepard, Andrew Adams and Roger Lewis Jr. were all touted for ushering in a new generation of players.

Landon Collins wasn’t mentioned in many of those stories. He’s been a starter since the start of last season. He feels much more like the establishment.

Yet he’s 22 years old. He’s younger than all of those mentioned above. And he’s now done something no Giant has ever done: won NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors for consecutive games.

Yes, there is a footnote. Collins won for his two interception game against the Rams, the Giants had a bye week, and then Collins won for his interception and sack against the Eagles. So it’s not consecutive weeks, just consecutive Giants games.

Still, it’s clear that when the Giants look to their future both immediate and long-term, they do so with Collins as a major part of the plan. When they talk about youth and the 2016 Giants, there are only five players on the roster younger than Collins: Eli Apple, Romeo Okwara, Bobby Hart, Ereck Flowers and Paul Perkins.

Collins is the only player in the NFL to lead his team in tackles (69), interceptions (3) and sacks (3.0). He is the first defensive player to win player of the week awards in consecutive games since Bears CB Charles Tillman in 2012 and the first safety since the Steelers’ Troy Polamalu in 2010.

Collins is the first Giants defensive player to win two player of the week awards in a season since safety Stevie Brown in 2012. Eli Manning won the offensive award twice for non-consecutive games in 2015.